Speech by Giovanni Di Stasi, Past-President of the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities, at the founding of the Adriatic Euro-region

Pula, 30 June 2006

Mr Chairman,
Excellencies,
Ladies and Gentlemen,
Dear friends,

It is said that great moments are born from great opportunities. More than fifteen years ago, the fall of the Berlin Wall and the collapse of Communist regimes gave us a great, historic opportunity to unite our continent under one democratic roof. This opportunity made possible the great moment which we have today – the signing of the Act founding the very first Euro-region of a new generation, the Adreatic Euro-region which will bring together territorial authorities of both EU and non-EU member states around the Adriatic. And I am also delighted that this is the occasion to open the Office of the Adriatic Council, the region’s managing body.

The idea for the creation of an Adriatic Euroregion came from the analysis of the difficult environmental situation of semi-closed seas in Europe, the Adriatic Sea being one. There are very sensitive issues of social, cultural and stability natures, which are also at stake in the area. These challanges have been considered of major importance at European level, the Adriatic being a door between the European Union and neighbouring countries - a door to be opened and eventually removed.

Regional co-operation between the countries of South-East Europe and European Union member States is essential to forge closer functional links between these two groups of states and is also a means of enhancing the integration of South-East European countries in the policy and action sphere under EU jurisdiction, which is now becoming ever broader. It is moreover a good way of promoting the social and economic development and stabilisation of the western Balkans. Lastly, co-operation between regional and local authorities and between public and private players in civil society and business circles offers a coherent solution to the shared problems of the communities concerned, while at the same time fostering mutual understanding between neighbouring countries and peoples, strengthening and legitimising the institutions of local democracy, and promoting regional development and high-quality political and economic relations.

Ladies and Gentlemen,

The preparatory work of the Adriatic Euroregion highlighted the need to develop interregional co-operation in five strategic sectors: fishing; protection of the environment; agriculture; tourism and cultural co-operation; and transport infrastructures.

The Council of Europe Congress of Local and Regional Authorities, which I represent, pursued this initiative aimed at developing cross-border and interregional co-operation strategies, which entails the establishment of co-operation bodies capable of providing effective responses to priority issues. The Adriatic Euroregion initiative meets this requirement by creating a permanent cooperation structure in policy areas of great importance to the development of the Adriatic basin, and to the preservation and rational, sustainable management of the riparian states' common resources.

Allow me to remind you the history of this project, which began here, in Pula, in June 2004, at a conference that emphasised the general need for promoting co-operation activities in the region. I can only stress how symbolic it is that we are signing the Founding Act also here, in Pula, thus completing the preparatory circle and launching a new beginning.

Already in September 2004, a seminar was held in Dubrovnik where a range of areas in which co-operation activities would take place was identified - Fishery, Environment, Agriculture, Tourism and Culture, and Transport Infrastructures (which, of course, does not exclude the possibility for other areas to be included in the near future).

Then, in November 2004, there was a conference in Timoli, during which representatives of the Adriatic regions signed the “Protocol on the establishment of the Adriatic/Ionian Euroregion” and discussed a proposal for a Statute of the new institution.

In 2005, we obtained the support of the European Union to this initiative, in particular the EU Committee of the Regions. This support has been recently reaffirmed in the report on relations between the Council of Europe and the European Union, prepared by Prime Minister of Luxembourg Jean-Claude Juncker following the decision of the Warsaw Summit of Council of Europe Heads of State and Government.

On the basis of this broad consultation, the Congress brought the initiative to a turning point in Venice on 6 February 2006, during which a joint political declaration, including the draft Statute of the Euroregion, was signed.

It is clear to all of us today that the problems of the Adriatic can be addressed more successfully through a permanent co-operative dialogue between local and regional authorities of the area. I speak about the problems of the environment – such as over-exploitation of natural resources and high levels of pollution – but also about the need for greater economic integration, and, in political terms, the need to defuse tensions between states over access to resources.

As has been envisaged, the Euroregion will be run by the Adriatic Council, made up of representatives or delegates of national and sub-national governments – regional, provincial and local – from Italy, Slovenia, Croatia, Montenegro, Bosnia and Herzegovina and Albania, as well as representatives of NGOs, of the European Union and the Council of Europe.

The primary role of the Adriatic Council will be to coordinate the activity of the committees established within the Euro-region: a Fisheries Committee, an Environment Committee, an Agriculture Committee, a Committee for Culture and Tourism and a Committee for Infrastructure and Transport. Taking into account the importance of co-operation in these areas, the Committees will prepare regional medium- and long-term strategies, allowing all the actors involved to exchange information, including through a regional communication system, and to monitor and assess progress in implementing joint projects.

We in the Congress strongly believe that through the creation of a Euro-region, the entire Adriatic region can benefit from co-operation initiatives between riparian states, aimed in particular at reinforcing relations between the European Union and the countries of South-East Europe. This is why at its latest session in 2006, the Congress unanimously supported the project and recommended that the Council of Europe governments give it their full backing.

The Euro-region’s permanent structure will not only lead to synergies in applying sustainable development strategies, but also serve as a factor for the promotion of new cross-border and transnational co-operative initiatives and a means of channeling those already existing within a broader, more harmonious framework. The Euro-region's activities should also necessarily be linked to those of institutions and organisations coordinating and supporting co-operation initiatives, which also serve sustainable development, economic and political integration and cultural objectives.

I would like to conclude by expressing the wish that all local and regional authorities of the Adriatic area become members of the Euroregion, thus integrating their experience in co-operation projects and benefiting from the partnership opportunities which will be created. National and international institutions, from their side, should be able to play a fundamental role in making the Adriatic Euroregion a true means of strengthening political, socio-economic and cultural cohesion. I also hope that the Greek authorities will join the project, turning it into the Adriatic-Ionic Euroregion.

Ladies and Gentlemen,

I am convinced that this project will pave the way for other similar Euro-regions, in particular in the Black Sea and the Baltic Sea areas. Let us make sure that this great moment which we are witnessing and sharing today will lead us, all of the Europeans, to new great opportunities.

Thank you.